Eurovision Song Contest changes rules after Israel voting controversy

The Eurovision Tune Contest is altering its guidelines round voting and promotion within the wake of controversy about Israel’s outcome at this yr’s competitors.

Some countries raised concerns after Israel topped the general public vote on the contest in Could, ending second general after the jury votes have been considered.

Followers will now have the ability to solid 10 votes every, down from 20, and juries will return for the semi-finals.

Organisers may even ban contestants and broadcasters from collaborating in promotional campaigns by third events together with governments. Final yr, there have been reports that an Israeli authorities company paid for adverts and used state social media accounts to encourage folks to vote for its entry.

Eurovision director Martin Inexperienced mentioned there had been “lots of suggestions from members and our followers” following the 2025 present, saying they needed Eurovision to “have a very good have a look at our guidelines”.

“There was a little bit concern that we’re seeing some undue promotion notably by third events, maybe governments, which are out of proportion of the remainder of the pure promotion that it is best to see within the present,” he mentioned.

He burdened he was “not going to single anybody collaborating broadcaster out” however that the adjustments had been triggered by quite a few promotional campaigns over latest years – particularly by third events – that have been “out of kilter” with the spirit of the annual contest.

The presence of Israel at Eurovision has additionally confronted opposition from some collaborating nations due to the battle in Gaza.

Spain, Eire, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands have all mentioned they’d think about boycotting subsequent yr’s contest if Israel takes half.

Whereas Inexperienced didn’t tackle Israel’s participation straight, he mentioned he hoped the measures would “give folks reassurance that the competition stays an neutral and impartial area”.

In a press release, he added: “We’re taking clear and decisive steps to make sure the competition stays a celebration of music and unity. The competition ought to stay a impartial area and should not be instrumentalised.”

The brand new guidelines:

• They’ll “discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns… notably when undertaken or supported by third events, together with governments or governmental companies”. Organisers mentioned broadcasters and artists wouldn’t be permitted to “actively interact in, facilitate or contribute to promotional campaigns by third events that might affect the voting consequence”.
• The variety of votes that may be solid by members of the general public might be reduce from 20 to 10 per particular person, which Inexperienced mentioned would imply folks might nonetheless unfold their votes “amongst many acts”. After this yr’s contest, a Flemish MP mentioned permitting 20 votes was “a system that encourages manipulation”.
• Juries, at the moment solely used for the grand ultimate, are being introduced again for the semi-final stage to “ensure that we’re assuring that high quality, that range of music”, Inexperienced mentioned, “in addition to respecting what the general public need”.
• Organisers will enhance technical monitoring to “detect and stop fraudulent or co-ordinated voting exercise, and strengthen monitoring of suspicious patterns”.

A vote on Israel’s participation had been resulting from happen in November, however the European Broadcasting Union, organisers of the annual contest, cancelled it resulting from “latest developments within the Center East”, together with the ceasefire in Gaza.

It mentioned on the time that Israel’s participation would as a substitute be mentioned at an in-person assembly in December, however it isn’t but clear if a vote will nonetheless happen.

Inexperienced mentioned broadcasters and their artists take part, not governments, and it was vital to “preserve the geopolitics off of the stage”.

Austrian nationwide broadcaster ORF, which can host the competition in 2026, has beforehand urged nations to not boycott the competition subsequent yr in Vienna.

Requested if the vote would nonetheless be occurring, Inexperienced mentioned: “We very a lot hope this bundle of measures provides our members the reassurance they should guarantee Eurovision stays a impartial and neutral area.”

Israel got here second in the newest Eurovision Tune Contest in Could, with its singer Yuval Raphael receiving the biggest mixed public vote.

Nevertheless, the addition of jury votes led to Austria’s JJ being declared the winner for his track Wasted Love.

The ultimate of the seventieth Eurovision Tune Contest might be held on 16 Could. The semi-finals might be held earlier that week on the similar venue, the Wiener Stadthalle.

It will likely be the third time Vienna has hosted the annual present, most just lately held there in 2015.

Within the UK, Eurovision is broadcast by the BBC.